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====The Reclamation Act and the expansion of water projects====

In 1902, the Reclamation Act passed and was designed to establish water and irrigation projects in western states. The idea was that reclamation or irrigation, projects would make the arid west suitable for American settlement.<ref>[https://www.usbr.gov/history/borhist.html] "The Bureau of Reclamation: A Very Brief History," US Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation.</ref> President Theodore Roosevelt—who would become so important to other massive projects like the Panama Canal—supported these projects. However, the Bureau of Reclamation, this nascent federal bureau tasked with reclamation projects, was already interested in the Owens Valley. Since the Owens Valley held so much potential, it only made sense to the Bureau to improve the irrigation systems there to the benefit of Owens Valley farmers and the Americans who would end up buying their produce.

Nevertheless, Eaton was a convincing man with connections, and by 1905 he had convinced the Bureau of Reclamation and President Roosevelt that it was more beneficial to put the water to use in Los Angeles. Furthermore, Eaton and Mulholland were able to assure this resolution by purchasing enough of the water rights in the Owens Valley to block the project, anyway. Eaton and Mulholland orchestrated the purchase of land plots in and around the Owens Valley. These individuals—who were working on behalf of the city of Los Angeles—eventually ceded their water rights to the city. Through deception, and in some instances, bribery, Eaton, and Mulholland were able to purchase enough of the land and water rights to prevent the reclamation project.

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====Building the Los Angeles Aqueduct====

[[File:LA Times cover.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Cover of the ''Los Angeles Times'' showing the First Water Flow from the Los Angeles Aqueduct]]